title: Maxi-K channels in plasma cells.
abstract: Whole-cells, excised outside-in and outside-out membrane patches were employed to study the electrophysiological properties of plasma cells isolated from the Harderian (lacrimal) gland of chicken. The study revealed that the whole-cell currents are dominated by outward rectifying currents which display slow inactivation times of the order of seconds. Records from excised outside-in and outside-out patches consistently revealed one channel type, a maxi-K channel. These maxi-K channels were shown to be both voltage and calcium sensitive. The single channel conductance of the maxi-K channel, with KCl solutions on both sides of the patch, ranged from 200-265 pS (n = 26). Both whole-cell currents and single channel activity (outside-out) were reduced by the introduction of 10 mM TEA in the bath. The ease with which a large number of plasma cells can be isolated free of undifferentiated B-lymphocytes makes this preparation ideal for studying the relationship between the electrophysiological properties and immunoglobulin secretion in plasma cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, SUNY, Stony Brook 11794.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Brink
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Roemer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Walcott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002645:Chickens; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006243:Harderian Gland / Q000166:cytology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D002118:Calcium